Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium that modulate a composition of an audio output in accordance with a noise level of an environment. For instance, the present disclosure describes a method for modulating an audio output of a microphone array, comprising receiving two or more audio signals from two or more microphone capsules in the microphone array, each audio signal comprising an electrical noise of a corresponding microphone capsule and a response to acoustic stimuli in an environment perceived by the microphone capsule, estimating an acoustic contribution level of the environment based on the received audio signals, and determining, by processing circuitry, a composition of the audio output of the microphone array based on the estimated acoustic contribution level of the environment, the composition being based on at least a relationship between acoustic noise and directivity indices of each of a plurality of beamformers.

Abstract: Techniques are described for detecting a conversation between at least two people, and for reducing noise during the conversation. In certain embodiments, at least one speech metric is generated based on spectral analysis of an audio signal and is used to determine that the audio signal represents speech from a first person. Responsive to determining that the speech is part of a conversation between the first person and a second person an operating state of a device in a physical environment is adjusted such that a volume level of sound contributed by or associated with the device is reduced. The sound contributed by or associated with the device corresponds to noise, at least for the duration of the conversation. Therefore, reducing the volume level of sound contributed by or associated with the device reduces the overall noise level in the environment, resulting in a reduction in conversational effort.

Abstract: Techniques are described for detecting a conversation between at least two people, and for reducing noise during the conversation. In certain embodiments, at least one speech metric is generated based on spectral analysis of an audio signal and is used to determine that the audio signal represents speech from a first person. Responsive to determining that the speech is part of a conversation between the first person and a second person an operating state of a device in a physical environment is adjusted such that a volume level of sound contributed by or associated with the device is reduced. The sound contributed by or associated with the device corresponds to noise, at least for the duration of the conversation. Therefore, reducing the volume level of sound contributed by or associated with the device reduces the overall noise level in the environment, resulting in a reduction in conversational effort.